Looking at Satisfying Gas for G&L Climax

Nighttrain1127 · #1 06-25-2008, 03:31 PM

Tell me about them and why I should buy one or not. I already have a pair of 81 L1K's and an L2K Tribby would I gain anything or lose anything by going this way. Never played one or heard one.
Thanks

Nedmundo · #2 06-25-2008, 06:20 PM

Check the G&L dealers in your area for an L-1500, which has the same electronics. That would give you an idea. The 1500 isn't easy to find, but they're around. If you search this forum, you'll find a large L-1500/1505 appreciation thread, with lots of views on how these beasts sound, play, etc. I love the aggressive punch of my 1500, but it isn't exactly an all-around bass like a Jazz.

The Fender Big Block "Precision" is similar too, with a humbucker in essentially the same area. I've tried one, and it's surprisingly close to an L-1500, though of course much less badass without the MFD!

Nighttrain1127 · #3 06-28-2008, 09:21 PM

The only real G&L dealer in this area has tributes and one L2k That has been hanging in the shop For years so playing a 1500 is probably not going to happen. just wanted to know if there were sound advantages to this bass over My L1K And L2K. But no other thoughts so I guess it is probably not wothh the price of admission.

Ken Baker · #4 06-28-2008, 10:05 PM

Okay - try this:

Go to your friendly neighborhood Guitar Center and see if they have a MusicMan Sterling 4H. It's a single ceramic humbucker with a series/parallel switch. The pickup is in pretty much the same place as the L-1500, so the bass has a notably aggressive sound that approximates an L-1500.

Play the Sterling with the EQ set flat (at the detents). Now imagine a similar sound; only more aggressive, quite a bit hotter, and with great playability (casting no aspersions on the Sterling). THAT is an L-1500. Very much in your face.

And guess what? You can order the L-1500 from a nice choice of necks and a huge array of colors & finishes.

Ken...

Nedmundo · #5 06-29-2008, 08:24 AM

Yeah, the Sterling is pretty close to the L-1500, and I wish the 1500 came in an H/S configuration like the Sterling.

The 1500's pickup overlaps one coil with an L-2000's bridge pickup, so it's more of a "bridge" tone than a "neck" tone. It's just far enough from the bridge to reduce a bridge pickup's "twang," and provide some low end punch. The lows aren't boomy; they stay tight and clear at high volume, which is a big advantage in some rooms.

lmfreeman9 · #6 06-30-2008, 07:22 AM

If you like the old school L1K's, you may want to consider a vintage SB-2 like the one on my avatar. It is a great sounding jazz bass and can be found for reasonable $ on ebay.
IMHO, the perfect complement for the L-1000.

lmfreeman9 · #7 06-30-2008, 07:33 AM

Climax FS in classified 1993 G&L Climax Ash Trans Blue NICE!

Nighttrain1127 · #8 06-30-2008, 05:18 PM

I know all about the vintage SB-2 I traded my 85 for a 2000 MIA Jazz Decked out with BadAssIII Lindy Frailin Pickups and An Audere 3JZ pre. Thought I was getting a Badass Bass and it was great once I removed the Audere But I just traded that even for a Brand New Jaguar. Would love to find another original SB-2 some day just not black or green.And it would have to have a maple Board.

lmfreeman9 · #9 07-01-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nighttrain1127

I know all about the vintage SB-2 I traded my 85 for a 2000 MIA Jazz Decked out with BadAssIII Lindy Frailin Pickups and An Audere 3JZ pre. Thought I was getting a Badass Bass and it was great once I removed the Audere But I just traded that even for a Brand New Jaguar. Would love to find another original SB-2 some day just not black or green.And it would have to have a maple Board.

They only came with maple.

nig · #10 07-01-2008, 03:51 PM

Getting back to the climax question, I have 6 of the blighters, love them all, the bodys are hard curved with the great swooping french curve on the back of the body, a #8 neck, the MFD in the sweet spot, normally light, but wayward electronics for some, but once understood, sometimes tweaked they really deliver a unique sound, some say to much treble, but you roll the pot back a bit and the tone slope totally changes. all in all a great bass...some will beg to differ.

heres four of them...

Wwolof · #11 07-01-2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nig

Getting back to the climax question, I have 6 of the blighters, love them all, the bodys are hard curved with the great swooping french curve on the back of the body, a #8 neck, the MFD in the sweet spot, normally light, but wayward electronics for some, but once understood, sometimes tweaked they really deliver a unique sound, some say to much treble, but you roll the pot back a bit and the tone slope totally changes. all in all a great bass...some will beg to differ.

heres four of them...

Very attractive!

El_JimBob · #12 07-02-2008, 05:57 PM

Hey nigel - still loving that old blue L-2000 of yours, but if you ever decide you wanna get shot of one of those bad boys there, give us a shout first

I have an L-1500 - similar to the Climax (mine has a v1.0 preamp) and had a love/hate relationship with it initially. There is a knack to getting it set-up well so that it sounds balanced and even, and also choosing appropriate strings goes a long way to tame the 'harshness'. I put TI Flats on mine and subsequently am totally in love with it!! A totally unique sound, and very, very usable....